Hyundai Connectivity Concept brings smartphone tech to the car

It’s no secret that most in-car entertainment systems are utterly useless. They look great and offer plenty of functionality, but they simply cannot compete with modern tablets or smartphones where usability and features are concerned. Hyundai, acutely aware of this fact, is planning to offer a means of harnessing the power of your smartphone for use inside your car.

The Hyundai Connectivity Concept uses a number of mobile phone-based technologies to make your infotainment system a little less archaic. The system, demonstrated in a modified Hyundai i30, allows users to lock and unlock their cars by placing their smartphone over an NFC (Near Field Communications) reader – a bit like an Oyster card or Contactless credit card.

Once inside, the driver can place their smartphone in a dock in the centre console. This wirelessly recharges the phone and allows the car to recognise the user and to activate a pre-set profile that streams content from the phone to the i30’s 7-inch touchscreen. All a user’s favourite content, including music, phone contacts and radio station preferences, are carried over to the car’s main screen for easy access.

The Hyundai Connectivity Concept will use MirrorLink technology, which allows the car’s primary display to show a replica of whatever is being shown on the screen. This allows users to make use of an almost unlimited number of apps, including Web browsers, Internet radio stations, navigation, audio and video while on the move. Hyundai will likely put safety before awesomeness, however, so don’t expect to be able to watch cat videos on YouTube while your car is in motion.

Allan Rushforth, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Hyundai Motor Europe, said: “Hyundai’s Connectivity Concept showcases the brand’s philosophy of making tomorrow’s technology accessible to a wide range of customers. With this technology, Hyundai is able to harness the all-in-one functionality of existing smartphone technology and integrating it into everyday driving in a seamless fashion. As the technology continually develops there will be capabilities to store driver’s seating positions and exterior mirror settings, providing customers with a comfortable and individual driving environment.”

Hyundai Connectivity Concept is expected to make its public debut sometime in 2015. Hopefully they’ll have thought of a better name for it by then.

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